Billiard ball rack

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a rack for aligning billiard balls at the start of a game. The rack is a flat, rigid, plastic frame member having legs which maintain the frame a desired distance above the playing surface. The periphery of the inner opening is constructed having segmented circular indentations which mate with the billiard balls. The inner opening is the shape of an equilateral triangle having sides which are equal to five times the major diameter of the billiard balls and having twelve indentations therein, thereby accommodating fifteen billiard balls in the standard equilateral triangular configuration.

nited States Patent [1 Sardelli Feb, 4, 1975 1 BILLIARD BALL RACK [76] Inventor: Jerry Louis Sardelli, 141

Clearwater, Lindenhurst, N.Y. 11757 22 Filed: May3, 1973 211 Appl. No.: 357,031

[52] U.S. Cl. 273/22 [51] Int. Cl A63d 15/00 [58] Field of Search 273/22; D34/3 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-R. T. Stouffer [57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to a rack for aligning billiard balls at the start of a game. The rack is a flat, rigid, plastic frame member having legs which maintain the frame a desired distance above the playing surface. The periphery of the inner opening is constructed having segmented circular indentations which mate with the billiard balls. The inner opening is the shape of an equilateral triangle having sides which are equal to five times the major diameter of the billiard balls and having twelve indentations therein, thereby accommodating fifteen billiard balls in the standard equilateral triangular configuration.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures BILLIARD BALL RACK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The usual type of rack, which is generally used with the game of pocket billiards, consists of a wooden three-sided frame of a triangular shape. The frame is constructed to accommodate fifteen balls in a loose equilateral triangular configuration. The procedure in operating the rack generally involves placing it with one side against a cushion of the billiard table, aligning the balls within the frame, and then, while manually trying to maintain the balls in as tight a configuration as possible, the rack and balls are rolled and slid to the desired spot on the table. It is well known that it takes a significant amount of skill and dexterity to keep the balls in a tight pack and to remove the rack without affecting the grouping. This procedure creates wear and tear on the playing surface which is now unnecessary because of the subject invention.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a means by which billiard balls may be accurately and simply aligned in the standard configuration without excessive wear on the playing surface and without the necessity of paying diligent attention to the placement of the balls and rack.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention can be more easily understood by reference to the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the rack showing the billiard balls in place;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the rack; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along section lines 3-3 of a part of the rack showing a ball in place.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, a rack for use in aligning the balls used in a game of pocket billiards is constructed of a plastic frame member 1 having an inner open area 4 which is generally the shape of an equilateral triangle and is of sufficient size to accommodate billiard balls 2 as shown in the phantom lines of FIG. 1. In order to maintain the balls 2 in a tight configuration, indentations 3 are provided which are of a circular shape and conform to the exterior of balls 2. When the balls are placed in the open area 4 and engaged in the indentations 3, they are accurately and firmly placed in the standard triangular configuration.

The frame member 1 can be of any size and shape, however, the embodiment shown in the drawing is be lieved to be particularly effective. Basically, the frame 1 consists of a flat, rigid, plastic member having an exterior triangular shape. The angles of the exterior are rounded to avoid sharp points which might damage the playing surface 7 of the billiard table.

The open area 4 of frame member 1, which is used in the standard game of pocket billiards, has 12 segmented circular indentations 3 along its periphery which is an equilateral triangle consisting of sides which are five times the major diameter of the balls 2. The indentations 3 need only be of sufficient size to tightly maintain the balls in their respective position.

The frame member 4 is provided with supporting legs 5 which maintain the frame a desired distance from the playing surface 7. In the preferred embodiment, the height H of the legs 5 is equal to the radius r of ball 2. This allows very little surface area on the frame to contact the ball, thereby minimizing frictional engagement between ball and frame. Legs 5 may be provided with flanges 6 to increase the stability of the rack. In order to decrease the friction of movement of the rack on the playing surface, wheels or rollers may be substituted for flanges 6.

In operation the balls are placed in their proper position within open area 4, the rack and balls are then placed in the appropriate spot on the playing surface, and the rack is then removed leaving the balls in a tight accurate arrangement for the beginning of the game.

I claim:

1. In combination, a group of billiard balls and a rack comprised of a flat, rigid frame having an overall triangular shape for the alignment of billiard balls on a billiard playing surface; supporting members depending from said frame to maintain said frame at a distance above the playing surface generally corresponding to the radius of the billiard balls; an interior opening in said frame of substantially triangular shape provided with indentations on the periphery thereof comprising 12 segmented circular portions which mate with the periphery of the billiard balls thereby accomodating l5 billiard balls within said interior opening; the sides of said frame being substantially equal in length to five times the major diameter of one of the billiard balls; and said frame being constructed in a generally equilateral triangular configuration. 

1. In combination, a group of billiard balls and a rack comprised of a flat, rigid frame having an overall triangular shape for the alignment of billiard balls on a billiard playing surface; supporting members depending from said frame to maintain said frame at a distance above the playing surface generally corresponding to the radius of the billiard balls; an interior opening in said frame of substantially triangular shape provided with indentations on the periphery thereof comprising 12 segmented circular portions which mate with the periphery of the billiard balls thereby accomodating 15 billiard balls within said interior opening; the sides of said frame being substantially equal in length to five times the major diameter of one of the billiard balls; and said frame being constructed in a generally equilateral triangular configuration. 